For the woman looking out the window at Dunkin Donuts

For the woman looking out the window at Dunkin Donuts

Have you kept all your promises

you made to yourself,

quietly,

with no one around?

Have you dreamed big

past the window pane

hazy?

Have you loved enough 

of the faces strolling

past you?

     The shirtless man with his cart of cans?

     The teenage boy with aviator glass

going nowhere fast?

     The woman walking two feet in front of her boyfriend?

There's time yet.

July 17th, 2009

For the man selling books on the street at night

For the man selling books on the street at night

These dull nothing lights

have seeped

in and filled

my ears once sweet

tunnels, my eyes once

wandering from 

room to roam, my mouth

whose tongue once

curved in searching.

I make it all wrong and 

right.

I'll be off soon and

see the space that's

left.

I am saying these words 

straight

to you.

Or trying to.

I don't know why.

July 15th 2009

To the drummer

Only once have I met
Someone that can do
What you do.
You stood to the side,
Yet I heard you the clearest.
5 guys 5 voices.
The band is lost
Without you.
You keep the beat.

Bus companion of the day: Man in the velvet blazer

You didn't cross your seats boundaries,
Only a head nod here and there.
You sat quietly,
Pre-occupied
Without anything to occupy you.
I appreciate that you're wearing pin-striped pants
With a velvet blazer
And the fact that you're comfortable
Enough to take off your shoes.
I've never seen someone sleep with sunglasses on,
And I can't think why I haven't slept this way before.
So I'll thank you in advance,
Mr. Pin-striped pants
For inspiring me
To make my own night-time.

For the man behind me in line at the post office

For the man behind me in line at the post office

At this moment
my heart is
beating fast.

I wonder what you are
sending to Chicago, IL.
It is so thin.

I wonder if
you see me
writing this.

And I wonder
what you look like
when you're surprised.





July 14, 2009

For the man at Sugar Cafe

For the man at Sugar Cafe

For a moment
I looked at you
and you had nothing
but a coffee mug
and a
crumpled napkin.
Then,
when I got this
picture & marker out
you had a beautiful
fruit salad in front of you.

In my ears
I'm hearing we are restless
and all around me I see
people
in different stages of knowing
(each other).





July 13th, 2009

For Kizmet

For Kizmet

I've seen your fierceness
under your fur moving fast
from your heart beating strong.
I share your spirit,
Lionhead rabbit -
gentle, but relentless.



July 1oth, 2009

For the waiter at Mark's Kitchen

For the waiter at Mark's Kitchen

You did not do a stupid thing
by forgetting which bread
went with which potato.
We did not mind at all.
I said to Sophia, "Maybe I'll
write a poem to the waiter."
She said,
"He is kind."

I wanted to tell you this and
also,
that every little thing is just right,
and it always will be.





July 9th, 2009

To the woman near the italian ice stand at the outdoor movie

To the woman near the italian ice stand at the outdoor movie

The man who was sitting next to you,
You broke his heart without
trying.
Seemed like he hoped to see
you again,
and it was hard to tell
what you wanted.

You watch the movie -
left leg crossed,
let foot bouncing,
cell phone clutched
under crossed arms.

Where did the italian ice stand
go?
I woke up & it was gone,
but you were still there.





July 8th, 2009

For the young man in the suit sitting next to my sister Sophia

For the young man in the suit sitting next to my sister Sophia

Story Ideas:

• The man who gave his daughter an anklet and it broke after two days
• The moon stuck full
• The things you were looking for hiding in freight crates
• Everyone on this bus living a life of integrity

Questions:

• Where did you get your notepad? (It is perfect for you)
• Why do I get so impatient?
• Will you go on forever?

July 7th, 2009